In this article, I will discuss our understanding of primate pheromones.​During recent years our knowledge on the behavioral biology of primates has advanced considerably. Experimental studies on primates in the laboratory, as well as ﬁeld research on many species, have provided insight into reproductive behavior, social behavior, and communication. It is characteristic of the communication systems of higher primates that they are multimodular. They rely on olfactory, vocal, tactile and visual signals. However, little is known about the role of the chemical senses in primate communication

Pheromone Signals in Primates

This lack of knowledge on primate pheromone signals in part reﬂect a human bias. As one ascends the phylogenetic scale from the pro-simians to the monkeys and apes, there is a continuous reduction in the size of the bulbus olfactorius. This appears to be correlated with an increase in the importance of visual and vocal communication and a decrease in olfactory communication.​In addition, visual and vocal patterns obviously are more noticeable to the human observer. And humans are anatomically better equipped and maybe mentally more prepared to see a display or hear a call than to smell an odor. Thus, pheromone communication has often been considered of minor importance. And much more attention has been paid to visual and vocal patterns.

Evidence for Primate and Human Pheromones

Except for the studies of Michael and his co-workers on sex attractants, little experimental evidence for the existence and biological function of pheromones in primates is available. However, a very large number of reports on the occurrence and histological structure of specialized, odor-producing skin glands. However, evidence suggests that pheromones not only exist in many if not most primate species. They are also of considerable importance in regulating the daily life of the individual. Coming up, I shall review the evidence for the existence of pheromones in infrahuman primates and discuss their possible functions. Learn more about recent pheromone studies in humans.

This article will mainly deal with the discussion of behavioral patterns from pheromones. I will infer the occurrence and function of pheromones when possible. As is to be expected on the basis of our very limited knowledge, a discussion of the biological role of primate pheromones will include some speculations. They might very well prove to be entirely untrue as research in this area progresses. However, they are presented here, not only in an attempt to tie our present knowledge together but also in order to stimulate more experimental studies in this field. This is not only interesting and rewarding but also of importance for a better understanding of the biology of our own species. Pheromone research is expanding.

Pheromone Research Is Ongoing

Research has recently challenged the general applicability of the term pheromone to all forms of intraspecific chemical communication in mammals. It's argued that chemical communication in many mammalian species seems to rely heavily on a variety of odor cues from different sources. They rely on a highly complex mixture of several chemical substances. Thus it seems difficult, if not at all impossible, to relate certain messages, like individual recognition, to only one, or at least a limited number of chemicals. These chemicals are present in urine, skin gland secretions or in general body odor. Therefore, the term pheromone is limited to those situations where one or at least a restricted mixture of compounds can be isolated. The biological activity of these compounds should then be conﬁrmed experimentally by a synthesized product.